The Montessori Notebook

The place to learn everything about Montessori at home in easy-to-follow, simple steps for busy parents and caregivers. Whether you are new to Montessori or have been using Montessori for a while, you will come away with practical ideas you can try today and use in your daily life.

respect for the child

10 ways we can show respect to our child

One thing about the Montessori approach is how we show respect to the child. The most powerful way for us to teach our child how to respect others is for us to model it and for them to absorb it every day. 10 ways we can show respect to our child Soft hands – the way we handle themListen – stop and really listen to their words, their expressions, their face and handsUse kind words – even when setting a limitAvoid baby talk – speak to them as we would to an adultLet them know what we … [Read more...] about 10 ways we can show respect to our child

Why are we still putting our children into time out?

In my parent workshops, I ask parents if they remember a time when they were punished as a kid, maybe given a detention or not allowed to go out with friends. Then I ask if this made them feel more or less connected to the person who gave them the punishment. When you are having a difficult moment, would you rather someone offer kindness or punish you? Most people say that they resented the person who gave them the punishment and it didn’t make them want to do right by them. Effectively … [Read more...] about Why are we still putting our children into time out?